City Again Puts Off Decision on Gold Line Deal

The Monrovia City Council again delayed a decision Tuesday on a proposed deal with the Gold Line Construction Authority after GLCA authorities asked the city not to take any action, officials said.

The city was poised to again consider . But Gold Line officials have said publicly that no deal was ever reached and if the city passed the measure Tuesday, it would not have been binding upon the GLCA.

Still, the GLCA asked that the city hold off on any votes regarding the land deal as the agency continues to work out a compromise, Ochoa said.

"Again, looking to be a good faith negotiator and an entity that has worked diligently for the best interests of all, what I am recommending to you is to allow this matter to continue," Ochoa told the council.

Tom Adams immediately reiterated his opposition to postponing the decision, calling the GLCA "disingenuous" and saying again that he thinks would be a bad deal for the city.

"I would just as soon abandon this," he said before casting the lone vote against a motion to postpone consideration of a deal to the next council meeting.

.

Councilman Clarence Shaw alluded to the "posturing" that was taking place in public and said he didn't want to delay a decision on the maintenance yard much longer.

"I’m going to say that Monrovia has done well," Shaw said. "Monrovia is going to continue to do well whether we have a yard or not."

The council's decision comes on the heels of a closed session meeting Monday of the GLCA's Board of Directors, who have been working to craft a compromise that they can send back soon to Monrovia officials. GLCA spokeswoman Lisa Levy Buch said that her agency is seriously considering using eminent domain against Monrovia if no deal is reached, but only as a last resort.

The land in question is 14 acres of property along Evergreen Avenue that would be used to house a $120 million maintenance yard for trains along the coming Gold Line Foothill Extension. The GLCA needs Monrovia's land before it can buy up surrounding land or condemn it.

The GLCA board has scheduled an eminent domain hearing for July 5.